Sydney at a glance
- Best time
- Apr – May, Jul – Feb
- Warmest month
- Jan · 25°
- Warmest sea
- Feb · 23.6°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,740 h
- Rain a year
- 702 mm
- Climate
- Subtropical
- Time zone
- UTC+11 / UTC+10
- Elevation
- 58 m
Climate in Sydney
Sydney has a subtropical climate with warm summers and mild winters. January is the warmest month with average highs of 25 °C, while July is the coolest at 16 °C. With around 2,740 hours of sunshine a year, Sydney is sunny; September is the sunniest month with 8.6 hours a day.
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Excellent
Best time to visit: April – May, July – February
What is the weather like in Sydney in October?
In October, Sydney is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 19.4 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 53 mm. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Sydney.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 12 h 53 min06:14 – 19:07
- UV index
- 9 · very highclear sky, noon (estimate)
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or more
- Wind
- 18 km/haverage daily peak
- Cloud cover
- 48 %on average
- Hot days
- 1 day30 °C or more
- Time zone
- UTC+11Australia/Sydney
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %88 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %70 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Wetsuit for longer swims
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in Sydney
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 18.4 – 20.5 °C
Swimming season: Nov – May
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Sydney ranges from 18.3 °C in August to 23.6 °C in February. It is warm enough for a comfortable swim (20 °C and more) from November to May.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in February, while the air already peaks in January. From April to August the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in February, eight out of ten years were between 22.7 and 24.6 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 23.0° | 22.2° | 23.7° | pleasant |
| FebruaryFeb | 23.6° | 22.7° | 24.6° | pleasant |
| MarchMar | 23.5° | 22.5° | 24.5° | pleasant |
| AprilApr | 22.6° | 21.8° | 23.4° | refreshing |
| MayMay | 21.2° | 20.2° | 22.5° | refreshing |
| JuneJun | 19.7° | 18.9° | 20.9° | fresh |
| JulyJul | 18.7° | 17.9° | 19.9° | fresh |
| AugustAug | 18.3° | 17.6° | 19.4° | fresh |
| SeptemberSep | 18.5° | 17.6° | 19.8° | fresh |
| OctoberOct | 19.4° | 18.4° | 20.5° | fresh |
| NovemberNov | 20.2° | 19.6° | 21.0° | refreshing |
| DecemberDec | 21.6° | 20.5° | 22.5° | refreshing |
Sunshine hours in Sydney
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 8.3 of 12.9 hours of daylight in Sydney, 64 % of the day.
Sunshine hours count the time with bright, direct sunshine (WMO definition, estimated from model data); daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
Rain in Sydney: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Sydney has about 8 rainy days with 53 mm of rain in total.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 83 | 25° | 20° | 23.0° | 7.7 h | 10 | 70 |
| FebruaryFeb | 79 | 25° | 20° | 23.6° | 7.1 h | 11 | 82 |
| MarchMar | 76 | 24° | 19° | 23.5° | 6.7 h | 11 | 83 |
| AprilApr | 84 | 21° | 16° | 22.6° | 7.1 h | 9 | 60 |
| MayMay | 87 | 19° | 13° | 21.2° | 7.0 h | 7 | 50 |
| JuneJun | 77 | 16° | 11° | 19.7° | 6.7 h | 7 | 57 |
| JulyJul | 80 | 16° | 10° | 18.7° | 7.4 h | 6 | 43 |
| AugustAug | 87 | 17° | 10° | 18.3° | 7.7 h | 6 | 44 |
| SeptemberSep | 93 | 20° | 12° | 18.5° | 8.6 h | 7 | 38 |
| OctoberOct | 89 | 21° | 15° | 19.4° | 8.3 h | 8 | 53 |
| NovemberNov | 85 | 22° | 16° | 20.2° | 7.7 h | 9 | 68 |
| DecemberDec | 87 | 24° | 18° | 21.6° | 8.1 h | 9 | 54 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)
33.87° S, 151.21° E · 58 m · Australia/Sydney
Best time to visit Sydney
The best time to visit Sydney is from April to May and from July to February. For a beach holiday with the sea above 21 °C, go from December to March. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, the weather is pleasant all year round. The wettest month is March with 83 mm of precipitation.
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Sydney for you.
Your best months: October – December
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
Dec – Mar
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
All year
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Sydney month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
83January25° · Sea 23° · 8 h
In January, Sydney is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 20 °C. The sea averages 23.0 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 70 mm in total. All in all, January is an excellent month for a holiday in Sydney.
Sydney in January79February25° · Sea 24° · 7 h
In February, Sydney is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 20 °C. The sea averages 23.6 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 82 mm in total. All in all, February is a good month for a holiday in Sydney.
Sydney in February76March24° · Sea 24° · 7 h
In March, Sydney is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sea averages 23.5 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 83 mm in total. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Sydney.
Sydney in March84April21° · Sea 23° · 7 h
In April, Sydney is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sea averages 22.6 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 60 mm. All in all, April is an excellent month for a holiday in Sydney.
Sydney in April87May19° · Sea 21° · 7 h
In May, Sydney is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 21.2 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 50 mm. All in all, May is an excellent month for a holiday in Sydney.
Sydney in May77June16° · Sea 20° · 7 h
In June, Sydney is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 19.7 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 57 mm. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Sydney.
Sydney in June80July16° · Sea 19° · 7 h
In July, Sydney is cool: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 18.7 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 43 mm. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Sydney.
Sydney in July87August17° · Sea 18° · 8 h
In August, Sydney is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 18.3 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 44 mm. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in Sydney.
Sydney in August93September20° · Sea 19° · 9 h
In September, Sydney is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 18.5 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 38 mm. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in Sydney.
Sydney in September89October21° · Sea 19° · 8 h
In October, Sydney is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 19.4 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 53 mm. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Sydney.
Sydney in October85November22° · Sea 20° · 8 h
In November, Sydney is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sea averages 20.2 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 68 mm in total. All in all, November is an excellent month for a holiday in Sydney.
Sydney in November87December24° · Sea 22° · 8 h
In December, Sydney is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sea averages 21.6 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 54 mm. All in all, December is an excellent month for a holiday in Sydney.
Sydney in DecemberPlanning a trip to Sydney
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 21 h
- Distance
- 17,020 km
- Time zone
- UTC+11
Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Sydney
When is the best time to visit Sydney?
The best time to visit Sydney is from April to May and from July to February. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Sydney?
The sea temperature in Sydney ranges from 18.3 °C in August to 23.6 °C in February. It is warm enough for a comfortable swim (20 °C and more) from November to May.
Can you swim in Sydney in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 19.4 °C. Comfortable swimming is possible from November to May.
What is the warmest month in Sydney?
January is the warmest month, with average highs of 25 °C and nights around 20 °C. July is the coolest month at 16 °C.
When does it rain most in Sydney?
The wettest month is March with 83 mm of precipitation. The driest month is September with 38 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Sydney get?
Sydney gets around 2,740 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is September with 8.6 hours a day; in March there are 6.7 hours a day.
What time zone is Sydney in?
Sydney uses the time zone Australia/Sydney: UTC+11 in January and UTC+10 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Sydney?
A nonstop flight from London to Sydney takes about 21 h, for a straight-line distance of about 17,020 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Near Sydney
Other destinations close by.